Double container dispensing package



1966 R. M. WOOLLEN ETAL 3,288,344

DOUBLE CONTAINER DISPENSING PACKAGE Filed March 19, 1965 BMW/Q20 M. 71700445 JEFFEEYK. moms/v Ema/n20 B. WOOLLEN Jun /mes.

0r TOEWEVS.

United States Patent 3,288,344 DOUBLE CONTAINER DISPENSING PACKAGE Richard M. Woollen, 5114 Nagle Ave., Sherman Oaks, Calif.; and Jeffrey K. Woollen and Richard B. Woollen, both of 14537 Killion St., Van Nuys, Calif.

Filed Mar. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 441,043 Claims. (Cl. 2297) This invention relates generally to dispensing packages and more particularly concerns a novel and unusually etfective package for dispensing a liquid beverage as well as another edible.

It is a major object of the invention to provide unusual combinations of advantages associated with a novel and simple dispensing package for a beverage and edible, such advantages overcoming problems associated with simultaneously dispensing multiple edibles. Specifically, there is a need in such locations as theaters for simply constructed packages capable of dispensing a liquid beverage and another edible, as for example popcorn or ice cream, particularly in such manner as to eliminate or reduce spillage during both package filling and package use. The latter problem has long existed where children purchase both beverage and popcorn and seek to manipulate the associated containers in a darkened theater. There is also a need for packages capable of these functions and further characterized as being subject to rapid assembly, without interference between the beverage straw and the other edible such as popcorn.

Basically, the invention comprises inner and outer cups, the inner cup shaped to hold an edible and to be received downwardly into the outer cup, the cups having interference fit limiting said. downward reception with the cups then defining a liquid storage zone below the bottom of the inner cup, the side wall of the inner cup being displaced away from the side wall of the outer cup below the rim level of the outer cup to provide for up and down displacement therebetween of a tubular straw without interference with the edible in the inner cup, whereby the cups and straw may be rapidly assembled for withdrawal of liquid from said zone through said straw and for lifting of the edible exposed in the inner cup.

Further features of the invention include the provi sion of cups as described, with inner and outer cup side walls which are tapered to provide the interference fit; cups having beaded upper rims that are interengageable to provide the interference fit; cups that have flat or footed bottoms to enable separate filling thereof while the cups stand separately on a flat surface; and cups that are fully stackable and nestable for storage or shipment.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of illustrative embodiments, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, taken in perspective, and showing one embodiment of the package;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of the package;

FIG. 3 is a vertical elevation taken in section to show the location of the tubular straw; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the inner container.

In the drawings the inner and outer cups are designated generally at and 11, with the inner container shaped to hold an edible and to be received downwardly into the outer cup. The cups have stabilizing interference fit limiting such downward. reception, and also so that the cups may define a liquid storage zone 12 below the flat bottom 13 of the inner cup. Typically, the cups may have downwardly tapering side walls to provide the interference 3,288,344 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 fit for stability, the tapers being substantially equal for mating along the inner cup slant height. Accordingly, the cups may be described as frusto-conical. Further, the cups may have annularly beaded upper rims 14 and 15 of substantially equal diameter, the rims being vertically interengageable when the cups are fully nested, to provide interference fit. Since the inner cup has a flat bottom 13, and. a peripheral foot or lower rim 13a, it may be loaded with an edible such as popcorn 16 before nesting into the outer cup, i.e. while the inner cup stands on foot 13a. Alternatively, the inner cup may be loaded while nested into the outer cup, without in any way disturbing or contaminating the beverage contents 20 of the outer cup, for reasons as will now be described. Note also flat bottom 25 and annular rim or foot 25a of the outer cup.

The drawings indicate that the side wall of the inner cup is displaced inwardly, or away from the side wall of the outer cup, at the location 17. Further, substantially the same degree of inward displacement extends throughout the upright and tapered length of the displaced side wall, to provide a re-entrant recess 18 for reception of a hollow beverage straw 19 at the outer side of the inner cup and at the inner side of the outer cup. Thus, the straw may be vertically displaced. downwardly into the recess after the cups are nested and filled, and also withdrawn from the recess, without interference with the edible in the inner cup. Also, rocking of the straw cannot dislodge the inner cup 10 in view of the stabilized construction of the package. Further, since the flat bottom wall of the inner cup is not punctured to pass the straw, the contents of the inner cup cannot fall downward into the contents of the outer cup in zone 12. In addition, the construction of the cups is such that they may be rapidly assembled. for withdrawal of liquid beverage from zone 12 through the straw, and also for simultaneous hand or spoon lifting of the contents of the inner cup that remain exposed; further, the inner cups may be nested or stacked for storage and shipment, and also outer cups may be nested for shipment.

It will be understood that the sizes of the cups and their tapers, as well as the size of recess 18 may be varied without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A dispensing package, comprising inner and. outer cups, the inner cup shaped to hold an edible and to be received downwardly into the outer cup, the cups having side walls tapered with substantially the same angularity to provide interference fit limiting said downward reception with the cups then defining a liquid storage zone below the bottom of the inner cup, the side wall of the inner cup being locally displaced away from the side wall of the outer cup below the rim level of the outer cup to provide a re-entrant recess, a tubular straw received in said recess and cap-able of up and down displacement therein without interference with the edible in the inner cup, whereby the cups and straw may be rapidly assembled for withdrawal of liquid from said. zone through said straw and for lifting of the edible exposed in the inner cup.

2. The package of claim 1 in which the cups have beaded upper rims that are interengageable to provide interference fit.

3. The package of claim 1 in which the cups have flat bottoms and consist of paper.

4. The package defined in claim 1, wherein the cups each have downwardly projecting lower rims.

5. A dispensing package, comprising inner and outer 3 4 cups, the inner cup shaped to hold an edible and to be References Cited by the Examiner received downwardly into the outer cup in stable nested UNITED STATES PATENTS relation, the cups having interference fit limiting said downward reception with the cups then defining a liquid 1,213,961 1/1917 Shepard 229-7 storage zone below the bottom of the inner cup, the side 5 1,665289 4/1928 Weaver 22915 wall of one cup being locally displaced. away from the 2,275,293 3/1942 FOIFY 20642 side wall of the other cup below the rim level of the 2,287,610 6/1942 GmdFey 22915 outer cup to provide for up and down displacement there- 25 031045 4/1950 Ham11 tn 229 44 X between of a tubular straw without interference with the 2'740575 4/1956 Fontame 229 7 X edible in the inner cup, whereby the cups and straw may 10 2,885,134 5/1959 Cohen 2297 X be rapidly assembled for withdrawal of liquid from said zone through said straw and for lifting of the edible ex- JOSEPH LECLAIR Pnmary Examiner posed. in the inner cup. D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING PACKAGE, COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER CUPS, THE INNER CUP SHAPED TO HOLD AN EDIBLE AND TO BE RECEIVED DOWNWARDLY INTO THE OUTER CUP, THE CUPS HAVING SIDE WALLS TAPERED WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ANGULARITY TO PROVIDE INTERFERENCE FIT LIMITING SAID DOWNWARD RECEPTION WITH THE CUPS THEN DEFINING A LIQUID STORAGE ZONE BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE INNER CUP, THE SIDE WALL OF THE INNEER CUP BEING LOCALLY DISPLACED AWAY FROM THE SIDE WALL OF THE OUTER CUP BELOW THE RIM LEVEL OF THE OUTER CUP TO 